So having spoken to Siemens, MeterPlus (npower), E.ON and Ovo again, it felt like I was making some progress, slow, but in the right direction, albeit by a bit of a roundabout route!
Being totally confused by MAPs (Meter Asset Provider) / MAMs (Meter Asset Manager), as well as MOPs (Meter Operator Provider) / MOAs (Meter Operator Agent) I don't know who really to speak to but at least Ovo have now called me back (Thu afternoon) following a voicemail message I left the Feedback (complaints) team last weekend AND an e-mail chasing up a response on Tuesday.
Rachel who called with the Return to E.ON suggestion asked what my response was, so I explained that I didn't think it was very helpful or sensible to suggest estimating our usage and export figures for the last 6-9 months when the accurate data was available and accessible, safely stored within the meter itself, simply because they are not used to doing it. I compared it to any normal consumer offering to estimate their usage on every reading for the next 6-9 months without any accurate historical usage to compare it to and without hope of an exact reckoning with a detailed reading later.
I pointed out that MeterPlus were amazed and keen to help and that Siemens had understood the issue and offered their assistance via a specific telephone number which Ovo or their engineer could call.
Rachel took down the details, agreed to call Siemens with their Industry Manager and to involve their meter partners, Lowri Beck and to let me know when they have spoken to them. I insisted that she let me know specifically so that no-one would come and change the meter without informing me in advance.
And then this morning, as I left the house, I saw a MeterPlus car/van arrive. They'd come to read next door's meter (coincidence) so I asked if they'd have a look at the meter for me. The guy was reluctant but prepared (while waiting for next door to unlock their gate) to cast his eye over the meter all of 5 yards from where he'd been standing anyway.
Unfortunately though when I pointed out the optical communication port on it and asked whether he had a reader which could access it, he glazed over blankly and said, "Er, no, I just read the number & put it into this" pointing has his handheld device much like a DHL "Sign here" machine.
It was worth a try!
Perhaps I'll have a search with Google's help for the optical readers and software necessary to read the data from the meter's internal registers myself ... I'll have to do something while waiting for Ovo to come back to me again. Or I could use the e-mail address I found online for the Managing Director of Ovo ... possibly sending a copy of my next "Feedback" e-mail would be interesting, or maybe he'd like to read my blog!
Whatever happens, there's certainly more to come ... !
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